Wireless service provider system and method for activating and selling a wireless service on a wireless device

ABSTRACT

A wireless service provider system and associated methods of using the system for the sale and/or activation of wireless services is disclosed. The system includes a communication interface for a wireless device having a unique identifier. A backend system computer of the wireless service provider system can receive a unique identifier corresponding to the wireless device; authorize the activation of the wireless service corresponding to the unique identifier of the wireless device; and record, in a database, the authorized unique identifier to improve a user&#39;s experience and ease of activation/provisioning of services for the wireless device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit from U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/098,086 filed on Dec. 30, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The invention relates to a wireless service provider system and methodfor the sale and activation of wireless services on wireless devices.More particularly, the invention relates to methods for provisioningwireless services on wireless devices using a communication protocol.

2. Related Art

A large number of wireless service plans exist for customers desiringwireless services such as data, talk, and text messaging. To obtainthese wireless services, customers generally have the option of enteringinto a post-paid service, e.g., contract for a period of time, or apre-paid, contract-free service. The latter offers customers the freedomto initiate and stop wireless services without incurring expensivecancellation fees associated with a post-paid service.

Generally, companies that provide post-paid wireless services arewireless carriers or Mobile Network Operators (MNO) that maintain andcontrol their own wireless networks. A MNO heavily relies on backendsystems to address any provisional, billing, security and data issuesthat might threaten the health of their networks. On the other hand, aMobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is a mobile operator thattypically does not own its own frequency spectrum or have its ownnetwork infrastructure. MVNOs negotiate and enter into businessagreements with third party wireless carriers or MNOs to purchase theright to use their networks for wireless services including volume ofdata and number of minutes/text messages used.

The services provided by both the MNOs and MVNOs often implementactivation cards, also known as airtime cards, for the sale andactivation and/or addition of a wireless service, e.g. talk airtime,data, or text messaging. Activation cards generally include a uniquecode that may include a scratch off area obscuring the unique code.Codes are correlated to a wireless service and must be recorded in aservice provider's database prior to distributing the activation card toa respective point-of-sale and reaching the customer. A record of everyairtime card distributed is therefore kept for the activation of thecorresponding wireless service until the card becomes obsolete throughredemption or expiration. Once a card is sold to a user, the user mustmanually scratch off the covering of the code and manually enter thecode and for activation of the wireless service. Codes are generallymade long and complex to prevent unauthorized use of the codes toactivate non-purchased wireless services.

Convenience, timeliness, and reliability of the wireless providers'backend systems are key factors that play into a user's experience. Bydeveloping a system to improve at least these factors, a more positiveexperience can be provided to the user. The improved experience willhelp retain customer base and increase the amount of customers willingto purchase wireless services from MNOs and MVNOs. In order to do so,the following needs can be addressed by enabling new improved systemsthat can be implemented for the activation of a wireless service.

A need exists to decrease the amount of processing of the backendsystems of wireless providers to provide faster activation of wirelessservices. Another need in the art also exists for an error free and moreexpedient method and system for customers to extend cellular serviceswithout using airtime cards. A further need exists in the art for amethod, system and application to enable wireless providers andretailers to sell and authenticate wireless services in convenientlocations, including transient locations, in an expedited manner, andwithout compromising unauthorized activation of services or the securityof the wireless providers' backend systems.

Accordingly, a more convenient, secure, and time efficient approach isneeded for the sale and activation of wireless services.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the invention,providing a system and associated methods for activating services andsubscriptions on wireless devices and/or systems implementing acommunication interface to connect with a point-of-sale terminal via acommunication protocol such as a peer-to-peer protocol or similarprotocol. In particular, the invention is intended to solve thechallenges by using a communication interface on a wireless device withat least one unique identifier that corresponds to a purchased/selectedwireless service and/or subscription. According to some aspects of thedisclosure, the services requested to be activated may include at leastone of initial provisioning or activation, device upgrades, devicereactivations, wireless number changes, the addition or purchase ofservices including airtime, data and text messaging, enrollments orcontent, and wireless number porting for wireless devices that havealready been activated.

According to aspects of the disclosure a wireless service providersystem for authorizing wireless service on a wireless device includes apoint-of-sale terminal, a peer-to-peer protocol configured to connectthe wireless device and the point-of-sale terminal, a unique identifierof the wireless device, at least one application associated with thewireless device configured to provide the unique identifier of thewireless device, the least one application of the wireless devicefurther configured to conduct transactions from the wireless device tothe point-of-sale terminal, and a processor of the wireless deviceconfigured to execute the first application and second application ofthe wireless device.

According to further aspects of the disclosure, a method of authorizingwireless service using a peer-to-peer protocol includes connecting awireless device to a point-of-sale terminal through the peer-to-peerprotocol, selecting at least one wireless service, making a payment, inresponse to the selection of at least one wireless service, for the atleast one wireless service from the wireless device to the point-of saleterminal, activating, in response to making a payment, the uniqueidentifier, confirming, in response to activating the unique identifier,activation of the unique identifier, and activating the at least onewireless service.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain aspects of theinvention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects ofthe invention that will be described below and which will also form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one aspects of the inventionin detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited inits application to the details of construction and to the arrangementsof the components set forth in the following description or illustratedin the drawings. The invention is capable of aspects in addition tothose described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore,that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructionsinsofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned features and aspects of the disclosure will becomemore apparent with reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram with exemplary components of awireless device in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary wireless device with a display of ahome screen and FIG. 2B illustrates a subsequent screen of a wirelessservice activation application with a graphical user interface, bothwhich may be used for the selection and control of the activation of awireless service in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary wireless serviceactivation system in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary method which may be used to implement thesystem of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an operation flow diagram with exemplary method thatmay be used for activating a wireless service on a wireless device atthe point-of-sale terminal according to aspects of the system of thedisclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an operation flow diagram with exemplary method thatmay be used for selling and activating a wireless service at thepoint-of-sale terminal according to aspects of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this specification and claims it is to be understood that referenceto a wireless device is intended to encompass electronic devices such asmobile phones, tablet computers, gaming systems, MP3 players, personalcomputers, PDAs, and the like. A “wireless device” is intended toencompass any compatible mobile technology computing device that canconnect to a wireless communication network, such as mobile phones,mobile equipment, mobile stations, user equipment, cellular phones,smartphones, handsets, or the like (e.g., Apple iPhone, Google Androidbased devices, BlackBerry based devices, other types of PDAs orsmartphones), wireless dongles, remote alert devices, or other mobilecomputing devices that may be supported by a wireless network. The term“wireless device” may be interchangeably used and referred to herein as“wireless handset,” “handset,” “mobile device,” “device,” “mobilephones,” “mobile equipment,” “mobile station,” “user equipment,”“cellular phone,” “smartphones,” “monitoring device” or “phone.” Withrespect to remote alert devices, data transmission over a wirelessnetwork, including on a pre-paid basis using a near field communicationcard, is contemplated for alarm fobs, wireless remote camera devices,vehicle monitoring systems, home based security systems that do notrequire a landline or use both a landline and a wireless network foradded reliability, and similar systems where wireless networkauthorization may be provided with peer-to-peer communicationcapabilities. The vehicle monitoring system may include a vehiclecommunication interface, components to determine vehicle operation,and/or the like. The home based security system may include doorsensors, window sensors, motion detectors, interface devices, and/or thelike.

A “point-of-sale” terminal as used herein can refer to a location whereone or more wireless devices and/or services can be sold and/oractivated which may or may not require sales personnel. A point-of-saleterminal can include, for example, a vending machine, an automatedkiosk, a retailer store, a gas station, and the like.

Wireless devices may connect to a “wireless network” or “network” andare intended to encompass any type of wireless network to obtain orprovide mobile phone services through the use of a wireless device, suchas the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network,Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, Long-Term Evolution (LTE)network, 5G network, that may utilize the teachings of the presentapplication to sell, activate, monitor, redeem, and/or track, theactivation of one or more wireless services.

Reference in this specification to “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “otheraspects,” “one or more aspects” or the like means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theaspect is included in at least one aspect of the disclosure. Theappearances of, for example, the phrase “in one aspect” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame aspect, nor are separate or alternative aspects mutually exclusiveof other aspects. Moreover, various features are described which may beexhibited by some aspects and not by others. Similarly, variousrequirements are described which may be requirements for some aspectsbut not for other aspects.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram with exemplary components of awireless device 104 in accordance with aspects of the disclosure isshown. In particular, the exemplary components which include acommunication interface 105, which may be used during the distribution,verification, and/or sale/purchase, of a wireless service. Other uses ofthe communication interface 105 for the activation of a wireless servicecan include but are not limited to a change of phone settings, anactivation message (e.g. text message) to be created and sent, startingof an application (e.g. payment application), and the like. In oneaspect, the communication interface 105 may initiate communication ofthe wireless device 104 through a peer-to-peer protocol or the like on acommunication channel as defined herein.

The communication interface 105 can be in communication with a processor114, memory 116, the transceiver 120, and a user interface 122. Theprocessor 114 may be a central processing unit configured to executeinstructions such as instructions related to software programs. Anyprocessor can be used for the electronic device as understood to thoseof ordinary skill in the art. The display 118 may be a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD). Preferably the LCD includes a backlight to illuminate thevarious color liquid crystals to provide a more colorful display. Theuser interface 122 may be any type of physical input as readily employedin the field. For example, the user interface 122 may have physicalbuttons. Alternatively, the user interface 122 may be implemented on atouchscreen 180, a motion sensor (not shown), and the like. Finally,wireless device 104 may include a power supply 158.

The memory 116 of the wireless device 104 may further include anoperating system 148, a communication component 150, a contact/motioncomponent 152, a graphics component 154, and the like. The operatingsystem 148 together with the various components provides softwarefunctionality for each of the components of the wireless device 104. Thememory 116 may include a high-speed, random-access memory. Also, thememory 116 may be a non-volatile memory, such as magnetic fixed diskstorage, SIM, UICC, cloud-based memory, flash memory or the like. Thesevarious components may be connected through various communication linesincluding a data bus 170.

The wireless device 104 can include an audio input/output device 156.The audio input/output device 156 may include speakers, speaker outputs,and the like, providing sound output; and may include microphones,microphone inputs, and the like, for receiving sound inputs. In anexemplary aspect, the audio input/output device 156 may include ananalog to digital converter and a digital to audio converter for audioinput and output functions respectively.

In another aspect, the wireless device 104 may include a transceiver120. The wireless device 104 may provide radio and signal processing asneeded to access a wireless network for services. The processor 114 maybe configured to process call functions, data transfer, and the like andprovide an array of services, based on those functions, to the user.

In an exemplary aspect, the touchscreen 180 of the invention may beimplemented in the display 118 and may detect a presence and location ofa touch of a user within the display area. For example, touching thedisplay 118 of the wireless device 104 with a finger or hand. Thetouchscreen 180 may also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus.Additionally, the wireless device 104 may further include a touch screencontroller 160.

In one operation, the display 118 may show various objects 190associated with applications for execution by the processor 114. Forexample, a user may touch the display 118, particularly the touchscreen180, to interact with the objects 190. That is, touching an object 190may execute an application in the processor 114 associated with theobject 190 that is stored in memory 116. Additionally or alternatively,touching an object 190 may open a menu of options to be selected by theuser. The display 118 may include a plurality of objects 190 for theuser to interact with. Moreover the display 118 may include a pluralityof screens. The display 118 showing one screen at a time. The user mayinteract with the display 118 to move a screen into view on the display118. Various objects 190 may be located in each of the screens.

The touchscreen 180 may be implemented as a resistive touchscreen, asurface acoustic wave touch screen, a capacitive touchscreen,self-capacitance sensors, infrared sensors, dispersive signaltechnology, acoustic pulse recognition, or the like.

The display 118 is generally configured to display a graphical userinterface (GUI) 122 that provides an easy to use visual interfacebetween a user of the wireless device 104 and the operating system orapplication(s) running on the wireless device 104. Generally, the GUIpresents programs, files and operational options with graphical images.During operation, the user may select and activate various graphicalimages displayed on the display 118 in order to initiate functions andtasks associated therewith.

In another aspect of the invention, the memory 116 of the wirelessdevice 104 can include a database for storing user information. The userinformation may include information such as full name, address, emailaddress, contact number, credit card information, and the like. In oneaspect, the database may include security questions. In another aspect,the database may include user specified preferences.

In yet another aspect of the application, the memory 116 of a wirelessdevice 104 can include a wireless service activation application 155.The application 155 may be preinstalled or downloaded from anapplication store. The wireless service activation application 155 maybe configured to control use of the wireless device 104 based oninteraction with a wireless provider backend server (shown in FIG. 4)for the activation of a wireless service.

The wireless service activation application 155 may utilize an internalaccounting module to establish an account with a representation ofprepaid funds or available credit for wireless services. In someaspects, the internal accounting module of the wireless serviceactivation application 155 may also be used to store and/or transmit aplurality of charge rates as well as a billing/payment algorithm. Theinternal accounting module can classify each wireless service (data,voice, SMS) into one of a plurality of billing categories; receive datacorrelated to the unique identifier, select a charge rate correspondingto that billing category; calculate an appropriate charge for the datausage, voice usage, and SMS usage in real time by using the selectedcharge rate; and apply this appropriate charge to the account. Forexample, upon the retrieval and/or verification of a unique identifierof a wireless device 104 by the communication interface 105, the one ormore steps may automatically take place to apply an appropriate chargeto the account.

A unique identifier application 162 may provide a unique identifier ofthe wireless device. The wireless device unique identifier may be in theform of Mobile Directory Number, International Mobile EquipmentIdentity, Mobile Equipment Identifier, login, or the like.

In some aspects, once the internal accounting module determines that theamount of wireless service (data, voice, SMS) used has depleted theaccount zero, the processor 114 may interact with the internalaccounting module and/or the wireless provider backend system to limit,prevent, alert the user, and/or control further use of the wirelessdevice 104 as further described herein. The controlled use can includesuspending voice calls, allowing limited voice calls, allowing all voicecalls, suspending text messages, allowing limited text messages,allowing all text messages, suspending wireless data service, limitingwireless data service, throttling wireless data service, and allowingall wireless data service. In this aspect, the wireless serviceactivation application 155 may also include a module for one or moresystem provider host processors, which store wireless deviceidentification information; store operating codes needed for wirelessdevice activation; and store operating codes needed for setting prepaidfunds or available credit amounts in wireless device accounts whereby,upon receipt of wireless device identification information, the hostprocessor may be capable of ascertaining the operating codes needed toactivate that particular wireless device or needed to set its accountamount.

FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary wireless device with a display of ahome screen and FIG. 2B illustrates a subsequent screen of a wirelessservice activation application with a graphical user interface, bothwhich may be used for the selection and control of the activation of awireless service in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. Thehome screen 200 may include a plurality of icons, e.g. 204, and is notlimited to a calling icon, texting icon, internet icon, and the like,allowing a user to perform one or more functions on the wireless device104. For example, the home screen 200 may also display icons for one ormore applications that have been downloaded from the Internet orpre-installed, and unlocked/retrieved. In some aspects, an applicationsuch as Google Wallet™, Google Play™, Android Market™, Apple Store™, orthe like, may also function with the communication interface 105 toprocess a payment during the activation of one or more selected wirelessservice.

Some of the payment and/or authentication applications may be stored ina robust manner that prevents a user from deleting, modifying,tampering, and the like, with the application's functionality. In thisregard, the activation service application 255, for example, can providedata management information, as depicted in subsequent screen 250, butmay not allow or limit user's input for the activation and/or control ofthe wireless services. Further, in some aspects the provision of theoptions depicted in the subsequent screen 250 to the user may only bemade available during activation of a wireless service and verificationof a unique identifier of the wireless device 104.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic diagram of an exemplary wirelessservice activation system according to aspects of the disclosure isdepicted. In particular, the wireless service provisioning system 300can be used to activate wireless network service(s) on a wireless device104 implementing various aspects of the communication interface 105 isdisclosed. Unlike conventional activation processes for wireless devicesthat can require a user 312 to contact a live customer servicerepresentative, utilize an interactive voice response system from alandline or another wireless device, or access an Internet website bythe user 312 to use a website activation system and enter longactivation codes to activate services on a wireless device, the presentwireless service provisioning system 300 can be used to activate awireless device 104 and/or activate services with automatedcode/information gathering and without requiring access to an agent,website, or general wireless or landline telephone system.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the activated service(s) mayinclude, for example, activation of a wireless service after or duringthe initial activation of the wireless device 104 by a user 312. Theinitial activation of the wireless device 104 may be described herein as“out of the box” activation and may take place at a point-of-saleterminal 320. In some additional aspects, the services requested to beactivated are one or combinations of: airtime, text messaging, and dataplans, but may also include at least one of device upgrades, devicereactivations, wireless number changes, and wireless number porting forwireless devices that have previously been activated. The wirelessdevice 104 may include a mobile phone, a smartphone, a wirelesscomputing device or laptop, a tablet, a wireless handheld device, amobile computing device, or other type of wireless device havingservices that can be activated wirelessly.

According to some aspects of the disclosure, the point-of-sale terminal320 can include, for example, a store retailer, a vending machine, akiosk, and the like, which may also include a communication system 325that can be used for payment and/or executing security and activationprotocols using a communication protocol such as a peer-to-peerprotocol. Further, the communication system 325 at the point-of-saleterminal 320 can be configured to communicate with the communicationinterface 105 of the wireless device 104, which may also be configuredto be in communication with a wireless provider backend system 322.Communication with the wireless device 104 may include, for example, oneor more of: communication using the wireless device communicationinterface 105, a wire connector, a data messaging channel, such as anUnstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel, a Short MessageService (SMS) messaging channel or a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)messaging channel, a personal area network (PAN), such as a Bluetooth™communication, an induction wireless communication, an infrared wirelesscommunication, an ultra-wideband communication, a ZigBee™ communication,a wireless fidelity communication channel, a local area network (LAN), aNear field communication (NFC) protocol, or similar communicationchannel is defined herein. The NFC standards cover communicationsprotocols and data exchange formats, and are based on existingradio-frequency identification (RFID) standards including ISO/IEC 14443and FeliCa. The standards include ISO/IEC 18092[3] and those defined bythe NFC Forum.

Communication between the communication system 325 of the point-of-saleterminal 320 and the wireless device 104 may be used to transmit apayment for a wireless service and/or automatically retrieve and/orgenerate wireless device-related information based on a user's inputselection. According to some aspects of the disclosure, the wirelessservice selection can be made by wireless connecting of the wirelessdevice 104 via a peer-to-peer protocol to a point-of-sale terminal 320,and can include a wireless provider selection, and/or a wireless servicetype and amount to be activated.

The wireless service selection and wireless device-related informationmay be transferred to a wireless provider backend system 322. Thewireless device-related information can include, for example, theInternational Mobile Equipment Identify (“IMEI”), an Electronic SerialNumber (ESN), Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID), and/or a serial numberfor a subscriber identity module (SIM) card installed in the wirelessdevice 104. The SIM card may include a SIM card memory for storing atleast a SIM card serial number, for example, an Integrated Circuit CardID (ICCID). A wireless device not utilizing a SIM card is contemplatedas well for use with the invention.

In some aspects, the information transferred may be in the form of anactivation message that corresponds and/or includes the wirelessprovider and/or wireless service selection by the user 312 andautomatically retrieved wireless device related information, thewireless device 104 unique identifier, and/or payment/authorizationverification from the point-of-sale terminal 320. The activation messageincluding the automatically retrieved information can be generated by aprocessor including, for example, the processor of the wireless device104 and/or a processor at the point-of-sale terminal 320. In someaspects, the activation message may be transmitted over a provisioningchannel provided over a provisioning wireless carrier network 316 thatis available to inactive or unprovisioned wireless devices or via anytype of conventional activation protocols known in the art on acommunication channel as defined herein. Alternatively, the activationmessage can be transmitted from the point-of-sale terminal 320 via anywired or other wireless communication type to the wireless providerbackend system 322. The wireless provider backend system 322 can includeone or more databases wherein authorized unique identifiers of awireless device 104 may be correlated/recorded when a wireless serviceis redeemed and/or purchased.

Although it is not required in some aspects, the provisioning wirelesscarrier network 316 may be used to receive the activation message via athe provisioning channel and forward the activation message in real timeto a subscriber provisioning wireless carrier network 316 operated by aservice provider for the activation of one or more services for thewireless device 104. Accordingly, the services requested to be activatedcan include at least one of: an initial “out of the box” activation ofwireless services of an unprovisioned wireless device 104 or deviceupgrades, device reactivations, wireless number changes, the addition orpurchasing of services including airtime, enrollments or content, andwireless number porting for wireless devices that have previously beenactivated or provisioned. In some aspects, the provisioning wirelesscarrier network 316 can be connected to a wireless carrier server andforward the activation message to the subscriber provisioning wirelesscarrier network 316, either directly or through a destination serverconnected to the subscriber provisioning wireless carrier network 316,to initiate service activation and provisioning of the wireless device104.

Referring now to FIG. 4, exemplary method steps which may be used toimplement systems of the disclosure are depicted in a flowchart 400. Inparticular, the method steps may include ways in which the communicationinterface 105 of the wireless device 104 can be implemented to provideor activate one or more wireless service(s) on the wireless device 104.At step 401, a unique identifier is provided for a wireless device 104during manufacturing. The unique identifier may include a programmedidentifier that can correspond to a wireless provider selection and oneor more wireless services to be activated. For example, the identifiermay include a first code corresponding to a wireless provider, followedby a second code corresponding to a wireless service type, and followedby a third code corresponding to an amount. It is contemplated thatadditional codes may be included for additional services and amounts,security codes, as well as for production data for statistical analysisperformed by the wireless provider, as it may be desired. Each of thecodes may be a series of digits including letters, symbols, and/ornumbers.

In some aspects, all of the codes, e.g. first code-third code, may beprogrammed to provide a unique identifier of the wireless device 104during manufacturing and prior to distribution. However, in someaspects, only the first code may be programmed during manufacturingleaving the others to be programmed at the point-of-sale terminal 320.

At 406, a payment is conducted from the wireless device 104 to thepoint-of-sale terminal 320. At step 407, after the payment of step 406has been completed, a service provider would activate the uniqueidentifier. Alternatively, the communication interface 105 may belocked. Locking of the communication interface 105 may includeencryption with wireless device 104 information and/or programming of anadditional code into the communication interface 105 to generate aunique identifier for the wireless device 104 and/or selection. At 408,the identifier of step 407 may be transmitted to the wireless providerbackend system 322.

At step 410 the unique identifier codes along with wireless device 104information are received by the wireless provider backend system 322. Atstep 415, the wireless provider backend system 322 can verify the uniqueidentification code by searching for the unique identification code inone or more databases to make sure the unique identification code hasnot been recorded/redeemed previously. At step 417, if the system findsthe unique identification code is not approved, the activation of thewireless service will be stopped 418. Upon stopping the activation 418of the wireless service, the wireless provider backend system 322 maysend a warning message to the user 312 (e.g., using the wireless device104) and/or the wireless provider. Alternatively at step 420, if whenthe unique identification code is approved (authentic, not beenpreviously used, or the like), authorization of a wireless service,including payment verification, may take place. At 421, the authorizedunique identification code is recorded in a database of the wirelessprovider before, after, or during, the activation, of step 425, of thewireless service on the wireless device 104 takes place. At step 426,the use of the wireless service activated may be monitored to determinewhen the corresponding wireless service has been expended by the user312.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an operation flow diagram 500 with exemplarymethod steps that may be used for selling and activating a wirelessservice on a wireless device at the point-of-sale terminal 320 accordingto aspects of the system of the disclosure is shown. In particular, themethod which may be performed by one or more processors for the sale andactivation of one or more wireless services at the point-of-saleterminal 320. At step 501, a unique identifier of the wireless device104 is provided. No record of the unique identification code may berequired to be kept in the wireless provider backend system 322.

Optionally at step 502, the communication interface 105 may be locked toprevent it from being tampered with. Locking of the communicationinterface 105 may include, for example, encryption and/or theprogramming of a second code onto the communication interface 105 at thepoint-of-sale terminal 320. At step 503, before or after thecommunication interface 105 is locked, payment is collected for thewireless service to be activated and corresponding to the uniqueidentifier. After payment is confirmed, at step 504, the uniqueidentifier of the wireless device 104 can be submitted to the wirelessprovider backend system 322 to be recorded in a database. For example,the recording may be done in an active database that may be used forverification of active wireless services. During redemption, the uniqueidentifier code(s) programmed may be processed along with informationcorresponding to the wireless device 104 in which the services are to beactivated on by the wireless provider backend system 322 for serviceactivation. Wireless device 104 information can include for example theInternational Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI), the mobileequipment identifier (MEID), and/or the SIM card unique identifier. Atstep 505, after activation of the wireless service purchased, the uniqueidentifier code(s) would be marked as redeemed in the database of thewireless provider backend system 322 to prevent duplicate redemption.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an operation flow diagram 600 with exemplarymethod steps that may be used for selling and activating a wirelessservice at the point-of-sale terminal 320 using a communicationinterface 105 of a wireless device 104 according to aspects of thepresent disclosure is shown. In particular, method steps that beperformed by a computer to facilitate the sale of a wireless service ata point-of-sale terminal 320 are provided. At step 601, wireless device104 connects with the point-of-sale terminal 320. At step 602, the user312 selects a wireless service. At step 603, a payment transaction forthe purchase of the wireless service may be completed via a paymentapplication installed on the wireless device 104. Payment applicationscan include but are not limited to, for example, Google Wallet™,PayPal™, Amazon Payments™, and the such. According to some aspects, thepayment application can be used to transmit a payment to the paymentprocessing register at the point-of-sale terminal 320. Accordingly, thepayment processing register can receive the unique identifier of awireless device 104 and receive payment either through a salesperson ora payment application.

At step 604, the unique identifier of the wireless device 104 may beactivated. At step 605, the user 312 may confirm the activation usingthe wireless device 104. At step 606, the user may elect to activate thewireless service at the time of purchase or save the activation code forfuture use.

The invention may include communication channels that may be any type ofwired or wireless electronic communications network, such as, e.g., awired/wireless local area network (LAN), a wired/wireless personal areanetwork (PAN), a wired/wireless home area network (HAN), awired/wireless wide area network (WAN), a campus network, a metropolitannetwork, an enterprise private network, a virtual private network (VPN),an internetwork, a backbone network (BBN), a global area network (GAN),the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, an overlay network, a cellulartelephone network, a Personal Communications Service (PCS), using knownprotocols such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access), Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G(fifth generation), W-CDMA (Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access),Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Near field communication (NFC),and/or the like, and/or a combination of two or more thereof. The NFCstandards cover communications protocols and data exchange formats, andare based on existing radio-frequency identification (RFID) standardsincluding ISO/IEC 14443 and FeliCa. The standards include ISO/IEC18092[3] and those defined by the NFC Forum.

The invention may be implemented in any type of computing devices, suchas, e.g., a desktop computer, personal computer, a laptop/mobilecomputer, a personal data assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a tabletcomputer, cloud computing device, and the like, with wired/wirelesscommunications capabilities via the communication channels.

In an aspect, the invention may be implemented in any type of mobilesmartphones that are operated by any type of advanced mobile dataprocessing and communication operating system, such as, e.g., an Apple™iOS™ operating system, a Google™ Android™ operating system, a RIM™Blackberry™ operating system, a Nokia™ Symbian™ operating system, aMicrosoft™ Windows Mobile™ operating system, a Microsoft™ Windows Phone™operating system, a Linux™ operating system or the like.

Further in accordance with various embodiments of the invention, themethods described herein are intended for operation with dedicatedhardware implementations including, but not limited to, PCs, PDAs,semiconductors, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC),programmable logic arrays, cloud computing devices, and other hardwaredevices constructed to implement the methods described herein.

It should also be noted that the software implementations of theinvention as described herein are optionally stored on a tangiblestorage medium, such as: a magnetic medium such as a disk or tape; amagneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk; or a solid statemedium such as a memory card or other package that houses one or moreread-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or otherre-writable (volatile) memories. A digital file attachment to email orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the invention is considered to include a tangiblestorage medium or distribution medium, as listed herein and includingart-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the softwareimplementations herein are stored.

Additionally, the various aspects of the disclosure may be implementedin a non-generic computer implementation. Moreover, the various aspectsof the disclosure set forth herein improve the functioning of the systemas is apparent from the disclosure hereof. Furthermore, the variousaspects of the disclosure involve computer hardware that it specificallyprogrammed to solve the complex problem addressed by the disclosure.Accordingly, the various aspects of the disclosure improve thefunctioning of the system overall in its specific implementation toperform the process set forth by the disclosure and as defined by theclaims.

Aspects of the disclosure may include a server executing an instance ofan application or software configured to accept requests from a clientand giving responses accordingly. The server may run on any computerincluding dedicated computers. The computer may include at least oneprocessing element, typically a central processing unit (CPU), and someform of memory. The processing element may carry out arithmetic andlogic operations, and a sequencing and control unit may change the orderof operations in response to stored information. The server may includeperipheral devices that may allow information to be retrieved from anexternal source, and the result of operations saved and retrieved. Theserver may operate within a client-server architecture. The server mayperform some tasks on behalf of clients. The clients may connect to theserver through the network on a communication channel as defined herein.The server may use memory with error detection and correction, redundantdisks, redundant power supplies and so on.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification, and, thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and variations will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction and operation illustrated and described, and,accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto that fall within the scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wireless service provider system forauthorizing prepaid wireless service on a wireless device, the systemcomprising: a server in communication with a point-of-sale terminal, thepoint-of-sale terminal implementing a peer-to-peer protocol configuredto connect the wireless device and the point-of-sale terminal, and thepoint-of-sale terminal configured to receive a unique identifier of thewireless device in conjunction with payment of prepaid wireless servicefor the wireless device, wherein the unique identifier of the wirelessdevice is generated by a unique identifier application implemented bythe wireless device, the unique identifier of the wireless deviceidentifies the wireless device to the server, a wireless serviceprovider, and an amount of wireless service including an amount of data,an amount of SMS, and an amount of voice; the server further configuredto receive the unique identifier of the wireless device, the wirelessdevice being configured to implement the unique identifier applicationto generate and to provide the unique identifier of the wireless deviceto the server through the point-of-sale terminal; the server furtherconfigured to provision the prepaid wireless service upon a verificationof the unique identifier of the wireless device and the payment ofwireless service for the wireless device, the provision of the prepaidwireless service being for the wireless service provider and in theamount of wireless service identified by the unique identifier; anaccounting device configured to monitor a use of the prepaid wirelessservice provided by the wireless service provider used by the wirelessdevice; and the accounting device further configured to control the useof the prepaid wireless service provided by the wireless serviceprovider used by the wireless device with the accounting device.
 2. Thewireless service provider system of claim 1, wherein the server isfurther configured to record the unique identifier as redeemed once theprepaid wireless service has been provisioned.
 3. The wireless serviceprovider system of claim 2, wherein the provision of the prepaidwireless service occurs after verifying, with the server, that theunique identifier of the wireless device has not been previously markedas redeemed in a database, the database being configured to record theunique identifier.
 4. The wireless service provider system of claim 3,wherein the database is configured to store the unique identification ofthe wireless device in response to the server.
 5. The wireless serviceprovider system of claim 3, wherein the database is further configuredto store the unique identifier of the wireless device along informationon the prepaid wireless service provisioned in association with theunique identifier.
 6. The wireless service provider system of claim 1,wherein the point-of-sale terminal is configured to conduct andauthorize a payment between a user of the wireless device and thepoint-of-sale terminal.
 7. The wireless service provider system of claim6, wherein the payment between the wireless device and the point-of-saleterminal is received at the point-of-sale terminal.
 8. The wirelessservice provider system of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale terminalcomprises a communication system, and the point-of-sale terminal and thecommunication system being located in at least one of: a kiosk, avending machine, and a store.
 9. The wireless service provider system ofclaim 6, wherein the wireless device is configured to make the paymentfor the prepaid wireless service to the point-of-sale terminal using thepeer-to-peer protocol.
 10. The wireless service provider system of claim1, wherein the communication interface of the wireless device isconfigured to implement the peer-to-peer protocol and the communicationinterface of the wireless device is configured to use encryption. 11.The wireless service provider system of claim 1, wherein the wirelessdevice includes a communication interface configured to initiatepeer-to-peer communication with the peer-to-peer protocol.
 12. A methodof authorizing prepaid wireless service using a peer-to-peer protocol,the method comprising: connecting a wireless device to a point-of-saleterminal through the peer-to-peer protocol; selecting at least oneprepaid wireless service at the point-of-sale terminal to be implementedin the wireless device; receiving a payment at the point-of-saleterminal, in response to the selection of at least one prepaid wirelessservice, for the wireless device; generating with the wireless device aunique identifier generated by a unique identifier applicationimplemented by the wireless device, the unique identifier of thewireless device identifies the wireless device, a wireless serviceprovider, and an amount of wireless service including an amount of data,an amount of SMS, and an amount of voice; receiving at the point-of-saleterminal, in response to making a payment, the unique identifier fromthe wireless device through the peer-to-peer protocol; transmitting theunique identifier and the selected at least one prepaid wireless servicefrom the point-of-sale terminal to a server; provisioning with theserver the at least one prepaid wireless service for the wirelessdevice, the provision of the prepaid wireless service being for thewireless service provider and in the amount of wireless serviceidentified by the unique identifier; monitoring a use of the prepaidwireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by thewireless device with an accounting device; and controlling the use ofthe prepaid wireless service provided by the wireless service providerused by the wireless device with the accounting device.
 13. The methodof claim 12, further comprising: storing, with the server, the uniqueidentifier and the selected at least one prepaid wireless servicereceived from the point-of-sale terminal; marking the unique identifierand the selected at least one prepaid wireless service as redeemed oncethe prepaid wireless service has been provisioned.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the server is further configured to be incommunication with a database configured to store the unique identifierand the selected at least one prepaid wireless service.
 15. The methodof claim 12, wherein the prepaid wireless service comprises at least oneof the following: data service, text message service, and voice service.16. The method of claim 12, further comprising: implementing encryptionwith the communication interface of the wireless device when connectingthe wireless device to the point-of-sale terminal through thepeer-to-peer protocol to prevent unauthorized use.
 17. The wirelessservice provider system of claim 1, wherein the accounting devicecomprises an internal accounting device implemented by the wirelessdevice; wherein the accounting device is configured to monitor the useof the prepaid wireless service provided by the wireless serviceprovider used by the wireless device with the internal accounting deviceimplemented by the wireless device; and wherein the accounting device isconfigured to control the use of the prepaid wireless service providedby the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with theinternal accounting device implemented by the wireless device.
 18. Thewireless service provider system of claim 1, wherein the accountingdevice comprises a wireless provider backend system; wherein thewireless provider backend system is configured to monitor the use of theprepaid wireless service provided by the wireless service provider usedby the wireless device with the wireless provider backend system; andwherein the wireless provider backend system is configured to controlthe use of the wireless service provided by the wireless serviceprovider used by the wireless device with the wireless provider backendsystem.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the accounting devicecomprises a wireless provider backend system, the method furthercomprising: monitoring the use of the prepaid wireless service providedby the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with thewireless provider backend system; and controlling the use of the prepaidwireless service provided by the wireless service provider used by thewireless device with the wireless provider backend system.
 20. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the accounting device comprises an internalaccounting device implemented by the wireless device, the method furthercomprising: monitoring the use of the prepaid wireless service providedby the wireless service provider used by the wireless device with theinternal accounting device implemented by the wireless device; andcontrolling the use of the prepaid wireless service provided by thewireless service provider used by the wireless device with the internalaccounting device implemented by the wireless device.